There are three distinct personalities in the Godhead. By personality, we mean "Distinctive personal character, individuality," according to Mr. Webster. Bodies are purely material and have no personality apart from the spirit. James said in James 2:26, "the body without the spirit is dead . . ." The spirit produces personality.

Mr. J. T. Payne, a Pentecostal Holiness Debater, said, "A person has flesh and blood, therefore there is JUST ONE PERSON in the Godhead." However, I want us to note the consequence of this statement. If this is true, how could Jesus be the express image of God's PERSON? (Heb. 1: 3). In order for something to produce an image, there must first be the "something." Also, we might ask, "Is Jesus Christ the son of God today?" According to this position (flesh and blood before you have a person), there is no PERSON in the Godhead NOW, neither was there a PERSON in the Godhead BEFORE Christ came to earth and took upon himself a body of flesh and blood.

Let us note just here that the Bible refers to Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit as God. That is, all three of these possess the characteristics of Divinity that we explained in last month's issue of this paper. In Heb. 1:8, the Father called the son "God." "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom." Hence, the Father called the Son "God." Not only is this true, but the Father is referred to as Lord just like the Son. In Acts 2:34, Peter quotes David saying, "But David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool." The first word "Lord" that is used in this passage is referring to the Father, and the second to the Son.

The Holy Spirit is also called God in Acts 5:3-4 which shows that the Holy Spirit possesses the characteristics and/or attributes of Divinity. Speaking of Ananias Peter said, ". . . thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." But in the preceding verse (v. 3) he had said that Satan had filled his heart to lie to the Holy Ghost. Hence, when Ananias lied unto the Holy Ghost, Peter said he had lied unto God. Thus, Peter attributes to the Holy Ghost the characteristics of Divinity.

In our next article, we will set forth further the distinction in personalities.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XII: 12, p.1
September 1968